Bryan Fitzgerald
Below is a rundown of hitters owners need to be prepared to bench or consider cutting for the either the M-Th or F-Su scoring period for Week 20 (Aug. 5-11). Players that are listed are at least 50% owned in the NFBC’s Main Event or Online Championship.
Players are listed alphabetically by team, with rationale written below the chart. Suggestions for the strength of play for each scoring period are ranked as follows: Great Start, Solid Start, Possible Start, Likely Bench, Definite Bench.
| Hitters to Sit or Drop | ||||||
| Name | Team | Pos | ME% | OC% | Wk 20 M-Th | Wk 20 F-Su |
| Alek Thomas | ARZ | OF | 67 | 5 | Drop | |
| Jarred Kelenic | ATL | OF | 100 | 94 | Likely Bench | Solid Start |
| Adam Duvall | ATL | OF | 91 | 17 | Drop | |
| Ryan O’Hearn | BAL | 1B,OF | 100 | 98 | Possible Start | Solid Start |
| Eloy Jimenez | BAL | UT | 88 | 47 | Drop | |
| David Hamilton | BOS | 2B,SS | 100 | 92 | Likely Bench | Possible Start |
| Michael Busch | CHC | 1B,3B | 98 | 99 | Solid Start | Definite Bench |
| Pete Crow-Armstrong | CHC | OF | 95 | 22 | Possible Start | Definite Bench |
| Noelvi Marte | CIN | 3B | 100 | 98 | Likely Bench | Possible Start |
| Jhonkensy Noel | CLE | OF,1B | 79 | 25 | Drop | |
| Kris Bryant | COL | 1B,OF | 84 | 14 | Drop | |
| Andrew Vaughn | CWS | 1B | 100 | 88 | Possible Start | Likely Bench |
| Korey Lee | CWS | C | 60 | 28 | Drop | |
| Wenceel Perez | DET | OF | 100 | 41 | Possible Start | Possible Start |
| Justyn-Henry Malloy | DET | OF,3B | 83 | 13 | Likely Bench | Possible Start |
| Maikel Garcia | KC | 2B,3B | 100 | 100 | Possible Start | Possible Start |
| MJ Melendez | KC | OF | 88 | 28 | Likely Bench | Likely Bench |
| Michael Massey | KC | 2B | 95 | 46 | Drop | |
| Paul DeJong | KC | 3B,SS | 81 | 38 | Likely Bench | Definite Bench |
| Andy Pages | LAD | OF | 90 | 75 | Likely Bench | Likely Bench |
| Amed Rosario | LAD | 3B,OF,2B,SS | 72 | 38 | Drop | |
| Brooks Lee | MIN | 3B,SS | 98 | 82 | Possible Start | Possible Start |
| Trevor Larnach | MIN | OF | 65 | 9 | Drop | |
| Sal Frelick | MLW | OF | 98 | 57 | Likely Bench | Possible Start |
| Joey Ortiz | MLW | 3B,2B | 97 | 76 | Likely Bench | Possible Start |
| Ke’Bryan Hayes | PIT | 3B | 95 | 71 | Likely Bench | Likely Bench |
| Jake Cronenworth | SD | 1B,2B | 100 | 100 | Likely Bench | Solid Start |
| Luke Raley Jr. | SEA | 1B,OF | 79 | 52 | Drop | |
| Michael Conforto | SF | OF | 88 | 48 | Definite Bench | Possible Start |
| LaMonte Wade Jr. | SF | 1B,OF | 75 | 21 | Definite Bench | Possible Start |
| Mark Canha | SF | 1B,OF | 70 | 13 | Possible Start | Definite Bench |
| Nolan Gorman | STL | 2B | 98 | 97 | Drop | |
| Josh H. Smith | TEX | 3B,SS,OF | 100 | 99 | Likely Bench | Possible Start |
Alek Thomas – ARI has a four-game M-Th, with 3/4 vs RHP, but Thomas may be relegated to a reserve role for now rather than a strong-side platoon. Jake McCarthy is scorching hot (152 wRC+ in July, .352 BA), has started eight of the last ten games, and is clearly the preferred option vs LHP (158 wRC+ vs LHP for McCarthy, -8 for Thomas). But McCarthy is also drawing regular starts vs RHP as well (four starts in the last six games vs RHP) and my guess would be Thomas draws two starts at most M-Th. Thomas has been scuffling lately (.200 BA in July, 78 wRC+). Although a 10% barrel rate and just a .224 BABIP Since July 1 suggests he should improve down the stretch, he’s a drop for me. This is the time of year to roster players who are producing on a daily basis unless they have league-winning upside.
Jarred Kelenic, Adam Duvall – Jorge Soler is ATL new leadoff hitter, pushing Kelenic down to the bottom of the order and possibly to the bench against LHP. He’s also been brutal over the past month – .137/.212/.284, 37 wRC+, 1 HR. He has chipped in 3 SB in that span, but hitting low in the order now, he’ll draw less PA and may not run as much. Some of Kelenic’s recent struggles seem BABIP-driven (.164 BABIP in July), but I’m likely cutting my only share of him this weekend. He does go to COL next weekend, but I’m not going to let that keep me from adding a better bat who’ll do more than chip in at SB with empty R, RBI, and a questionable BA at best. I could see keeping him for the weekend stream or OF depth if you need it. …Duvall is an easy cut now that Soler is in town, relegating Duvall to a short-side platoon role. He may be worth a $1 stream in Week 21, when SF hosts SF for four games M-Th and should see 3/4 vs LHP.
Ryan O’Hearn – BAL should see 4/6 vs RHP next week, including just two games vs RHP M-Th. O’Hearn’s been solid this season, but his strong-side platoon bat is not quite to the level of a must-start in a two-game period, as a lot of his value is built around voluming R and RBI in the middle of a great lineup. He’s also been slumping a bit lately (.236 BA in July). Also note that BAL is likely to face a lot of LHP over the next few weeks. They should see 4/6 vs lefties in Week 21, followed by a seven-game Week 22 where BAL could face just 2/7 vs RHP (at NYM and vs HOU, who just added Kikuchi). …Eloy in a short-side platoon role is one of the easiest drops of the week. No need to roster a part-time player who’s severely injury-prone with a 60% ground ball rate.
David Hamilton – Hamilton’s been brutal since the start of July – .197/.252/.258, 40 wRC+, 31-7% K-BB. Three of his four CS this year have also been since July 1, and his SwK rate in that span is 17% (10% on the year). He also faces KC M-Th, who’ve allowed the least amount of SB on the year He’ll sit against lefty Cole Ragans, giving him just two starts for the first part of the week.
Michael Busch, Pete Crow-Armstrong – Both should see 3/3 vs RHP M-Th, but note CHC only has two games F-Su, and one will likely be against lefty Garrett Crochet, meaning they each may only get one game next weekend. PCA has been playing more against lefties lately, but is no sure thing for both games.
Noelvi Marte – As someone who took the big FAAB plunge on Marte in a few spots, this one hurts. He’s been benched for three of the last six games in favor of Santiago Espinal and deserves to be. On the year – .177/.231/.281, 39 wRC+, 16% SwStr and 70% contact. He’s not a cut yet for me, as I’ll think he could start to make more contact and eventually click, but right now you can’t depend on him, even on a seven-game week.
Johnkensy Noel – He’s back to a short-side platoon role with Lane Thomas onboard and can be cut.
Kris Bryant – I’m shocked he’s rostered this highly, as he’s done nothing all season (59 wRC+, .194 BA, 2 HR over 127 PA) and is getting rested regularly (started four of the last seven games). He’s not worth the Coors stream this week.
Andrew Vaughn, Korey Lee – Outside of Luis Robert, I’d have no interest relying on roto stats from anyone in CHW’s comical lineup. They also have a two-game F-Su this week. Vaughn has been cold lately (62 wRC+ since July 1) and his RoS pace for R and RBI will be terrible on this offense. I’d hold him to stream in good matchups, but could also see cutting him for better options. … Lee’s been useless after his hot start to the season – Since June 1, 32 wRC+, 33-4% K-BB, 3 HR, 0 SB. He needs to be moved on from, even for streamers.
Wenceel Perez, Justin-Henry Malloy – Riley Greene is eligible to come off the IL Monday, and I’d check for updates over the weekend to see if he is due back when first eligible. If he is, either Perez or Malloy could lose playing time. Initial reports were that Greene shouldn’t miss more than the minimum IL stint. He was doing pregame workouts a week ago. With Parker Meadows up and DET facing 5/6 vs RHP this week, my guess would be the Tigers alternately sit Perez and Malloy, and maybe Matt Vierling, to get Greene and Meadows at bats. DET goes to SEA to face three very good RHP (Castillo, Kirby, and Woo) and Malloy in particular has done most of his damage against LHP this season (71 wRC+ vs RHP, 236 vs LHP). In July, Perez was great for fantasy purposes (5 HR, 3 SB), but had a .200/.242/.389 and 74 wRC+ for the month. I’d guess he loses the most playing time when Greene returns.
Maikel Garcia, MJ Melendez, Michael Massey, Paul DeJong – The KC infield is a bit crowded after the DeJong trade, as he’s no longer in an everyday role, but is grabbing playing time at the expense of Garcia and Massey. Since he’s been in KC, DeJong started 1/3 vs RHP and 2/2 vs LHP. Garcia sat Saturday against a LHP and played 2B in every game DeJong has started as well. If owners don’t need Garcia’s speed, they should consider cutting him soon. He’s a terrible real life bat (79 career wRC+ over 1005 PA), has not been contributing in BA (.237 on the year), and isn’t going to help in runs in a limited role on a middling offense. …Massey is a strong-side platoon bat who is going to keep losing PA vs RHP as well due to rest and getting DeJong at bats. I still believe in his hard hit and contact skills (career 9% barrel rate, 38% hard hit, 80% contact, 11% SwStr), but he’s contributing nothing to fantasy owners (ranked 525th on the Fangraphs player rater over the last 30 days for 15-teamers). …If you really need power, I can see holding onto Melendez, as the skills have been there all season (43% hard hit, .431 xSLG, .241 xBA) but he can certainly be moved on from as well. He’s yet to put it all together this season and is sitting vs all LHP and the occasional RHP.
Andy Pages, Amed Rosario – Pitchers are either making adjustments against Pages he hasn’t figured out, or he’s hitting a rookie wall, as he’s done nothing since the calendar flipped to July – 0 HR, 0 SB, .198/.255/.244, 45 wRC+. He could lose some playing time in center to new acquisition Kevin Kiermaier and I wouldn’t be shocked if he gets sent back to AAA once Tommy Edman is activated, which could come next week. …Any hope Rosario would be anything more than a short-side platoon bat in LAD have been dashed. He’s sat for all four games since being traded, all vs RHP.
Brooks Lee, Trevor Larnach – Carlos Correra should be on his rehab assignment soon, and when he comes back I think Lee is getting squeezed from this lineup. Lee hasn’t done much lately (76 wRC+, 2 HR, 2 SB since July 1) and owners may want to start looking for other options in both the short and long term before Correa is back. …Larnach’s contributing nothing (.204 BA, 3 HR, 1 SB in July), sits vs all LHP, is now sitting against some RHP as well, and shouldn’t be rostered. With Matt Wallner up, Kepler playing most days, and Royce Lewis and Jose Miranda likely to grab some DH at bats, he’s going to keep losing playing time.
Sal Frelick, Joey Ortiz – Frelick doesn’t look like a great option for the M-Th set vs ATL. He could sit against Sale and may only start in tough matchups against Charlie Morton and Spencer Schwellenbach. Even in weeks with good matchups, he’s a fringy start for me. He has no power (5 HR in 155 career games) has decent but not great speed (21 career SB) and helps in BA, but isn’t a world beater there (.261 career BA). …Ortiz has looked completely lost over the past month (Since July 1 – 23 wRC+, .158/.222/.211) and shouldn’t be trusted for production right now.
Ke’Bryan Hayes – Unless you’re desperate for speed from the CI or 3B spot, there’s no reason to be starting Hayes. On the season, he’s the 385th on the Fangraphs player rater for 15-teamers, 277th over the last 30 days. He has 3 HR and 23 RBI in 84 G and his 67 wRC+ is the lowest among all qualified hitters in MLB. He’s only providing defensive value in real life and nothing to fantasy managers. He also faces good pitching this week (SD and LAD).
Jake Cronenworth – He’s been bad vs LHP all year (56 wRC+), sat vs the last lefty SD faced in favor of Donovan Solano, and SD faces 2/3 vs LHP M-Th. I think he’s going to sit for one of those games, giving him just two for the early week slate. He’s also been unproductive on the whole lately – 77 wRC+, .202/.287/.310, 2 HR, 0 SB since July 1.
Luke Raley Jr. – With Randy Arozarena, Victor Robles, and Justin Turner in town, Raley is getting sat regularly, starting just three of the last seven games, two of which were vs RHP. He can still pop a HR or SB (11 HR and 9 SB on the year), but the plate appearances aren’t going to be there moving forward and will only get worse once Julio Rodriguez is activated off the IL.
Michael Conforto, LaMonte Wade Jr., Mark Canha – It’s a waste of a seven-game week for Conforto and Wade, with SF set to face 3/4 vs LHP M-Th. Wade never plays against lefties, Conforto does about half of the time, but I think he’ll only start two games, three at most. He’s also been slumping lately – 82 wRC+, 1 HR, .176/.299/.324 over 87 PA since July 1. …Canha should start and maybe even hit 2nd in all three games vs LHP, but he’s been contributing nothing for months – 79 wRC+, 1 HR, .220 BA over 166 PA since June 1. I wouldn’t let this week’s M-Th matchup keep me from moving on from him for a better RoS hitter.
Nolan Gorman – Gorman’s not even getting full run against RHP, starting 3/10 games since July 23. His K rate is up to 38% on the season and 45% since July 1. He’s capable of trimming that down and getting back to the player he’s been before, but at best he’ll still be a strong-side platoon, which makes him a tough hold for me with just eight weeks left in the season.
Josh H. Smith – Smith sat In the only game vs a LHP since Josh Jung came off the IL and TEX faces 2/3 vs LHP M-Th. I wouldn’t bet on three games from him in the early week set.
